Review: Dancing Queen, Newcastle Theatre Royal

May 7 2009 by Aranda Garrard, The Journal

STANDING tall in their knee-high platforms, boas and skin-tight sparkling nylon were the Dancing Queen Super Troupers. They certainly looked the part.

But then again, I’ve seen Newcastle hen and stag party-goers dressed as well, singing better and definitely more in sync with their music.

Perhaps I’ve watched too many episodes of Britain’s Got Talent, but this show was not of the calibre I’ve come to expect from the Theatre Royal. In fact, I had to keep pinching myself as a reminder that I wasn’t on a cabaret or karaoke night.

ABBA tributes have been done to death, but shows such as Sing-Along-A-ABBA and Mamma Mia! have kept their heads above water Unfortunately this one just didn’t float my boat.

Our “Agnetha” warbled on like Marti Caine while her counterpart, sequin-clad “Anni-Frid”, had so much slap on her face I couldn’t get Dorian from Birds of a Feather out of my head.

I had been ready for a rollercoaster ride through 70s disco, but this wasn’t as well-oiled or thrilling as it could have been, despite all the costume changes.

The cast ploughed through the first half at great pace, with tracks such as Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Does Your Mother Know and Fernando.

In Act Two there was a comical mishap in which poor Anni-Frid’s zip came down. The costume drama unfolded during Money, Money, Money but luckily “Bjorn” came to the rescue. It was a case of SOS if ever there was one!

The medley at the end did grab the audience’s attention and there was a Mexican wave as people bounced along to Voulez Vous.

They seemed to enjoy it, but if you’re an avid ABBA fan, it is a trip down memory lane best not taken.